I wake up in Link's arms and stretch my legs. He's fast asleep. I give him a small kiss on his jaw and unplug my phone from his charger. We slept in late, but we also stayed up late because the music from downstairs was deafening.

After I took care of his injuries, we played Mario Kart, watched YouTube, got really tired, tried but failed to sleep, played some cards, got an energy boost at 2 AM, tried to get homework done, and ended up making out instead. I smile at the memory.

After that, we fell asleep to a documentary about Antoine Griezmann and the disturbing sound mix of a barfing sorority girl and the moans of Kafei and Anju's premature honeymoon ritual. No need to replay those memories.

I scroll through some hotel options in the area until, one hour later, a vibrating sound is coming from the empty chips bags on Link's desk and I get up to find his phone buzzing. I gently shake Link until he opens his eyes.

"Hey," he says in a raspy voice and smiles.

"Someone is calling you."

He rubs his eyes and, with a groan of pain, tries sitting up. His hand reaches for his shin and rubs over the swollen area.

"Who is it?" he asks. His hair is a hot mess. 

The buzzing has stopped and a green notification pops up. "I don't know but they just sent a text."

"030317."

"What?"

"That's my pin, read me the message," he says, closing his eyes again.

Dazed, I stare at his phone. He wants me to read his messages? Is this a test? I hesitate but pick up his phone and am surprised when the code unlocks his phone. I look back at Link, his eyes still closed. Huh... 

I open his messaging app. I try not to read the names he's been texting but my eyes go there involuntarily. Mipha and Aryll are the only female names I see. Not that it matters...

"So?" he asks. Oh right. I select the most recent message.

"It's your captain," I say. *Where u at?*

Link's body folds to a 90-degree angle and his eyes fly open. "What time is it?"

"It's 11:03," I say and watch as he jumps out of bed, without his crutches.

"I forgot we had practice today," he breathes and grabs his car keys from the nightstand.

"You can't practice with a broken leg, I thought your coach is informed?"

"Practice isn't all about running."

"But Link--" I follow him out of his room and almost trip over a girl sleeping on the floor in front of his room. Luckily she is completely out of it and doesn't notice us. Link walks downstairs and out the front door. 

"Link, if you keep walking on your leg like it's nothing you're going to need emergency surgery and won't be able to play sports again."

"Is this about the crutches?" He finally stops walking when we reach his car in the driveway.

"Partially, yes. Are you trying to sabotage your career? Is that it? Do you want to get hurt?" I remember him telling me that he wished to injure himself as a kid to escape from life as an athlete. "Or are you a masochist, craving the pain?"

"Neither, I just forgot."

"How can you forget?" Seriously, how?

"I just forgot," he groans and unlocks his car. Are we fighting? He looks annoyed when all I'm doing is care about his well-being.

"I'm sorry," I say, my voice much lower.

"Stop, I'm not mad," he claims but his voice tells me something else.

"Can I go fetch your crutches, please? Can you try using them today?"

He sighs. "Sure, thank you."

"What about breakfast?"

"I don't have time, I'm already late."

"There's always time for food."

I hurry back inside and bump into Domidak by the door. His coffee gets spilled but he doesn't seem upset about it.

"Good morning," he smirks at me. This isn't Domidak. Domidak is at practice.

"Hey Prissen."

"Where did you come from? I didn't see you at the party."

"I wasn't at the party," I pass him and enter the kitchen.

Are frat boys on a photosynthesis diet? Because there's no food in the fridge, suggesting that they live solely from sunlight. From the bowl on the dining table, I grab the apple that feels the least squishy and head upstairs. When I return with the crutches, Prissen eyes me and waits for me to explain what I'm doing but I don't. I just ignore him and head back to Link's car.

"Here," I hand him the crutches and the apple.

"Thank you," he lays them onto the messy backseat. He wants to give me a kiss on the cheek but I back away knowing that Prissen might be watching from the living room window. With his head lowered, Link gets into his car.

"Link, I'm sorry." I'm doing this to protect him from the man I call Father.

"Are you going to be here when I get back?"

"Do you want me to be?" When he nods I know that he's not mad at me. "Then I'll be here when you get back," I smile and watch as he drives away. What a hectic morning.

I return to the living room, Prissen is still watching me from the corner of his eyes. I thought about going back upstairs but not when Prissen is watching my every step. If he hasn't already drawn any conclusions he surely will as soon as I disappear in Link's room.

"If you have something to say just say it," I say as I pick up the red cups littering the floor.

"Who? Me?" Prissen asks.

I take an obvious look around. The other four people in the room are all asleep.

"Yes, you."

He shrugs and sips on his coffee. That's what I thought. People always think they know what's going on but when you confront them they're suddenly quiet. Kafei appears at the stairs and joins us in the living room.

"Morning," he yawns as he walks to the kitchen.

"Good morning," I return with a shy smile. I feel like I don't belong here at all.

"Who drank my coffee?" Kafei cusses from the kitchen.

Prissen raises his eyebrows with a mocking grin and leaves the empty mug on the ping pong table before he winks at me and sneaks out the front door. Kafei reappears in the living room only moments later and surveys me with his eyes.

"I didn't drink your coffee," I say at his accusing squint.

His eyes settle on the cups in my hands. "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning, I suppose."

"You weren't even partying with us."

"I don't mind." I have to get my mind off of Link and kill time until he gets back anyway.

Kafei groans at the sight of students sleeping off their hangovers on his couch. He wakes them up with the sound of his mixer and tells everyone to leave. It takes an hour before the last guest has finally departed.

"Do you want me to go too?" I ask Kafei, hoping the answer is no. I have picked up every piece of trash and washed my hands at least fifty times in the process. I'm not used to cleaning but I think I did a decent job.

"Nah, you're always welcome to stay," he says, staring at the empty fridge. He shuts it and takes a seat on the couch. "Sit," he invites me to join him.

I take a seat on the other end of the coach. "Where's your fiancé?"

"She's at work."

"Is she a student at HU? She looks like a grad student."

"She never went to college because her family owns an Inn that she works at."

"Oh, that's... nice." She doesn't have a college degree? 

"It's pretty cool, yeah. I'm actually a few years younger than her but I'm graduating in May and our wedding is the day after graduation so I'll have my graduation party at the same time as my bachelor party. Gonna be lit."

I nod and chew on my cheek. I don't know how to carry this conversation any further. I'm inexperienced when it comes to partying or marriage. I'm thankful when Revali joins us. He's wearing sweatpants, a red tank top, and one of those phone holders for your arm.

"I'm going for a run," he announces, then looks at us and frowns. "Why's she still here?" he asks Kafei as if I wasn't sitting in front of him. "She's not staying another night, is she?"

"So what if she was? She's sort of Link's girlfriend," Kafei turns his head to look at me. "Right?"

"Er... I don't know." Link claims we're friends but my definition of friends doesn't include the exchange of saliva.

"I'm just saying," Revali huffs. "You live in a freaking castle, why doesn't he sleep at your place? He doesn't like it here anyway and we could all use a break from him."

"There is only one minor issue: I no longer live at home."

"Did daddy buy you your own mansion?" Revali snarls.

"No," I bark. "I left because he bullied and discriminated against me!"

Silence hits like a truck and I consider apologizing but I have nothing to apologize for. I won't sit here and bite my tongue as Revali makes fun of me.

"Fine. Sorry," Revali mutters. He doesn't know what else to say but his apology is good enough.

"So how long are you going to stay?" Kafei asks.

"I'm not. I'll, er, I will sleep at a friend's place for a little while," I lie. I don't know where else to go. I can't go to a hotel without Father tracking me and I'm not going to Urbosa's to drag her into this mess.

Another guy joins the living room in only his boxers. My eyes flee to the yellowish wall that I assume used to be white a long time ago. This must be another one of Link's roommates.

"Yo," he plunges down on the couch opposite me. "What are we talking about?"

"Zelda is thinking about staying here for a few nights," Kafei errs to summarize. "Her dad's an ass and I sort of don't believe her when she says she has a friend she can crash at."

"Shit, for real? Yeah stay; the more the merrier," this guy slurs.

"Hell no," Revali's objection comes faster than my mind can process any of this.

"Don't be like that," Kafei says to Revali.

"She's loaded. Why would she want to stay in this dump?" Revali argues.

"Because of Link," Kafei returns. That would be the only reason indeed. "Anju's practically living here too and once you find your balls and kiss that swimmer chick, you'll want her to stay here too."

"That's so different," Revali's losing his temper as he waves his hands through the air between us. "Anju is your fiancé! Link and Zelda aren't even a real couple."

Ouch. "Revali's right," I admit. "I can't just stay here."

"Sure you can," the half-naked guy says carefree.

"No, she can't!"

"Who's hungry?" Mr. Boxershorts gets up and walks to the fridge.

"Don't change the topic, Teli!" Revali snaps.

"We're out of food," Kafei calls to the kitchen and Revali loses his mind.

"Guys!" He cries for attention.

"What's the big deal, Ravioli?" Kafei asks him.

"He's a jealous plate of salty pasta because he doesn't have anyone staying over," Teli taunts, leaning against the door frame between the kitchen and living room.

"Says you!" Kafei laughs at Teli's face.

I'm watching them bicker about me staying even though nobody has asked me if I even want to stay. Sure, I'd love to be close to Link, but I don't know if he wants that too. And what would other people think if I stayed here? Somebody would see me leaving the house every day and start asking questions. Is it even legal to stay at a fraternity when you're not a member? Anju seems to be doing just fine but she can't get expelled.

"So, what do you think?" Kafei breaks through my thoughts. I look up at Revali. His arms are crossed and his chin is up high, aiming away from us.

"It's really sweet of you but I wouldn't feel comfortable staying when I'm not welcome."

Revali sighs and his shoulders drop. He looks at me with vexation and pity. "It's not like you have nowhere else to go," he says but I don't reply. "Right? You have the money to buy yourself a house." Again, I remain silent. "I mean, shit, if this is your only option, stay, but don't do it just to spite me."

"I would never purposefully hurt you," I promise. I tease him sometimes but I would never stay another night if he's against it. He's just too used to people annoying him on purpose that he lost his trust in people.

"Cool, problem solved," Kafei says.

"No, I don't even know if Link would want me to stay."

"Any guy would want you to stay." I cringe at Teli's comment.

"Only for a couple of nights until I find an apartment," I look up at Revali for approval.

He rolls his eyes but doesn't raise any objections which I think means that he's okay with it but doesn't want to agree verbally.

"I will go grocery shopping for us, just give me a list of things you need," I offer and watch as gratitude pulls their lips into wide smiles.

---

By the time I get back to the house, Link's car is back in the driveway. I park down the road and carry the bags up to the porch. It's humid today. Revali is just returning from his run and pulls his headphones out as he arrives on the porch. He grabs the grocery bags and opens the door.

"Oh, you don't have to--"

"It's fine," he groans. 

I follow him inside where Kafei, Teli, and Link are sitting in the living room. Revali doesn't greet them nor does he look at them. He goes straight to the kitchen and puts the groceries away while I step into the living room, unsure what to say to them.

"Did you find everything?" Teli asks.

"Almost. They were out of Revali's protein powder."

"Of course they were," I hear him complain.

I look at Link. I want to know if he would be fine with me staying. Just until I find an apartment. I don't know how any of that works so it would be nice not having to be alone in my car for the time being.

Link's leg is still in the brace, the crutches lie at his feet. He looks up at me as if he can look right through my mind. But his expression is calm and plain as usual and I find it hard to read him.

"Would you like to go upstairs? We need to talk," I say to him with a shaky voice.

"Kafei already told me," he replies.

"Told you what?" I have to be sure we're talking about the same thing.

"That you're staying."

"I'm not," I say, a little too hastily. "Not unless you're fine with it. I'm trying to find some other place to stay. I can stay with Impa next week or go to a hotel. I don't want to be a bother, this is your house after all."

"No, I think you should stay until you find an apartment," Link says, his expression unaffected.

"But... I really don't want to overstay my welcome or take up space."

"As long as you're fine sharing a room with Link," Kafei says even though I was talking to Link.

"Is that okay?" I ask Link, he nods. He's not expressing an excessive amount of excitement but he's not displaying any disagreement either. I just have to believe that he wouldn't agree to it unless he's comfortable with the thought.

"Of course," he adds reassuringly, easing my mind. He looks thoughtful but I can't pinpoint it. There's something he isn't telling me.

"What is it?" I ask and sit down next to him.

"Don't be mad," he begins and I can feel the worry rising behind my eyes. "They kinda know that we... hang out."

"Like it was a secret," Revali mocks.

"We won't tell anyone," Kafei assures me.

I look at Teli to hear it from him too. His fingers drive over his lips, sealing them, and throwing away the invisible key.

"That's good," I say to Link. I'm relieved, not mad. "It would be hard to hide it from your roommates, considering that I'll be spending more time with them."

"You wish," Revali lets out a rude chuckle and walks upstairs.

"We're cool with it, just don't do it on the couch. That's where we eat," Kafei says and it takes me a second to understand what he's referring to.

"It's nothing like that," I try to explain. "We are just... friends." Link and I exchange looks.

Once I find the right time to talk to him about our relationship we might turn into something more but not while we share a room. I don't want to make things awkward if he says no or feels pressured to say yes...

✤ ✤ ✤

Dear diary,

A year has passed since I moved in with Link.

I'm kidding. But it's been a full month since then and I feel horrible, for I have told his roommates I'd only stay for a few days. I do think they've gotten used to my free tutoring lessons and the magical fridge that refills itself every week. I am scared that moving into my own place will make it final; no going back home. Link seems to enjoy my company and I feel needed since he still can't walk.

I felt ready to leave for a little while, unfortunately the apartments listed online are either located in a sketchy neighborhood or just out of my price range. I still don't have a job and these places want proof of a stable income and--

"Zelda?" Pik is suddenly standing in front of my seat. This is the first time he has spoken to me since the day of Link's last game, and the confusion on my face couldn't be any more obvious.

"Hey Pik," I shut my diary and hide it under my astronomy book.

"We need to talk," he says and I gulp. I've been meaning to talk to him ever since I saw him at the mall but with the apartment search, midterms, Impa's trial and Link's surgery coming up, and Father following me around on campus, I just haven't had the strength to add more stress to my mental chaos. 

The only good news is that Father hasn't expelled me yet. He hasn't changed my major either and even tried to apologize, which sounded like this: "Come home, you proved your point." Which could translate to "I miss you, you win." Sometimes he will catch me after class and ask me where I'm staying, but I haven't given him any information. I barely even look at the man and threatened to call the police if he continues to follow me.

"I've been meaning to talk to you too," I say to Pik.

"But you didn't." His response is harsh but he's not wrong. He has every right to be upset; I had a lot of chances to talk to him. I'm just a coward who chose to ignore this problem, hoping it would go away on its own.

"Why now? Class is about to start," I ask.

"Astor's returning our exams today. I don't know how you'll react to your grade so I wanted to explain myself before he gives you your exam."

I frown and chew on my bottom lip. "Well? What is it you want to tell me?"

"First of all, I want you to know that I'm not mad at you," he says and my jaw drops.

"Why would you be mad at me?" I snap, trying to keep my voice down since we're in a classroom. "You are the one who sabotaged my grade."

"How'd you know about that? I didn't even get to that yet," he asks startled, taking the seat next to me. He hasn't sat with me in what feels like forever. After the exam he never chose to sit near me again. I don't blame him. He begged me to talk to him and after I agreed I just brushed him for a month straight.

"I didn't know for sure but you just confirmed my suspicion. It was pretty obvious though; when the professor told me to leave you were the only one looking away," I say, my voice on the verge of breaking. Even though I suspected him from the beginning, it still hurts to find out that he would do something so childish.

"I was looking the other way because everyone else was staring at you like the judgemental noisy pricks they are. I was showing you the respect you deserved and didn't want to put any more attention on you because I know you don't like people staring at you," he replies in a desperate voice.

Professor Astor shuts the doors, ridding the room of its main source of light, and walks up to his podium. 

"Class hasn't even started and you've already disappointed me," the professor scoffs without flinching. "Your exams have been graded. If you need to cry, please do so in the hallway."

Very motivational speech, I think to myself as the professor hands back the bundles of paper. Pik passes a note to me. *Let's talk after class?*

I look at him and nod, still wearing a grim face. I want to know why he did what he did. The professor stops in front of us and I quickly snap out of it and straighten my back. He looks at the paper in his hand and then at me, bitterness and a subtle thread written into the lines on his forehead. Then he looks at Pik.

"I expected better," he says, handing Pik his exam, then handing me mine without a word.

I keep my eyes on the professor as he turns away, terrified of the grade that awaits me when I look down. I shut my eyes, aim them at my exam, and slowly open them again. I gasp at the red ink at the top of the paper. I got a 100.

H-how? I blink at the front page with my name and date on it. I didn't even finish the exam, how is this possible? I look to my left, curious to see what Pik got. He has an 86 but covers it with his hand as soon as he notices my eyes on it. What the... 

I flip through my exam. Every question is answered in somebody else's handwriting and the drawings on the last page are mesmerizing. I return to the front and realize that the first page is the only page that has my handwriting on it.

I look back at Pik with my jaw still agape.

"Did..." I whisper and choke back the words when the professor glares in our direction. Did you switch our exams? I want to mouth at him. Why else would his grade be so low? 

Twitchy and on edge, I have to wait until the end of the lecture to confront Pik about our grades. Is this really his doing? These must be his drawings on my paper, nobody else can draw a galaxy this realistically under time pressure. But why?

With much strain I wait for class to end and approach Pik as soon as the doors in the back open and students begin to leave the planetarium. However, I only make it as far as to open my mouth, I haven't even spoken the words tingling at the bottom of my tongue when Pik holds up his hand to silence me.

"Not here," he says, his eyes darting to the professor.

"Let's go backstage?"

He shakes his head. "I don't have the keys to the auditorium anymore. But we can go to the dance studio, it's usually unlocked."

He leads the way to the arts building and takes me upstairs to a large room at the end of a long, colorful hallway. It's quiet and dark. No wonder; it's 8 PM and apart from night classes the campus has nothing going on this Thursday night. 

This room is a piece of art. Marley flooring and large mirrors covering the walls. A beautiful view of the city at night stretches across the colossal rows of windows and a lone piano fills the space in one of the corners. We leave the lights off.

"If we have to meet in secret like this you must have done something very wrong," I dare say.

"I have," he admits. "But with good intentions."

"You switched our exams."

"Yes."

"Why?" I cross my arms.

"Because I felt bad for you when you got that phone call during class. Knowing how important that exam was for you I did everything I could to make sure you got an A."

"To clear your conscience? You know that I could get expelled for this, right?"

"Me too!" he whispers. "But I risked it anyway. I risked everything for you. You don't have to thank me but don't be mad that I gave you my grade!"

"Thank you? Aren't you the one who got me kicked out of that exam in the first place?"

"What are you talking about?" his brows furrow.

"That call... It was your fault."

"How?" He yelps.

"My phone was muted before I went to the restroom and when I came back it wasn't."

"I didn't unmute your phone if that's what you're implying!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because we are friends? At least I thought we were until you stopped talking to me."

"Friends don't go behind each other's backs and tamper with their exam! Explain your 'good' intentions," I say using air quotes.

"After the exam I asked Astor to give you the extra credit needed for a 100. When he refused, I gave up my position as TA for theater and applied as Astor's TA. That's why I have the keys to the planetarium. I knew that working for Astor would leave no time for theater and I might have to give up my part as Romeo but I did it anyway. And do you know why I did it? So that I could sneak into the room when nobody was around, remove the staples on our exams, swap our front pages, and staple them back together. You got my grade, I got yours. I could get in huge trouble for this, and I know I should have asked first, but you were avoiding me and we were running out of time. I wanted you to get the grade you deserve so... I'm sorry that I listened to my heart and acted selfishly selfless!"

He is out of breath by the time he finishes yelling at me in his quietest voice. I've shrunk at least 10 inches in the past forty seconds and my tongue is cowering and unwilling to form any words. If it's true what he is saying I have proven once again that I am my father's prejudiced daughter...

"Is this really the truth?"

"Why would I be lying?" His hands push his hair back in a hectic motion and he paces back and forth. "All I've done since we've met is help you! Why and especially how would I call you during an exam that I am taking at the same time as you? I helped you study, why would I do that if I wanted you to fail?"

"I don't know," I say...

"Exactly. There's no motive."

"But then who called me?"

"Let's find out! Show me the number that called you and I'll call them right now."

"I lost my phone..." I murmur, feeling ashamed and disarmed. "But... You were watching my stuff."

"You still think it was me?" He pants, his mouth agape.

"No, but--"

"Sooga and Khoga came up to me before the exam and distracted me for like a second but nobody touched your bag."

"How would you know if you were distracted?" I argue. "Do you think they tinkered with my phone?"

"Maybe. I'm sorry if that's the case. I guess it's my fault then. I looked away for literally one second. I just wanted to do something nice but clearly I made a mistake. I wish you would have just talked to me and not avoided me like the pest. But I think I understand why you stopped talking to me... Congratulations by the way," his eyes fall to the ring on my finger.

I hide the ring behind my back. "I'm not engaged, this was a gift from a family friend. She's sort of my aunt and gave this to me as a token." Pik attempts to walk out but I block the exit.

"Wait, no, I'm sorry," I cry. "I'm sorry, Pik! I'm an incriminating, egocentric, uncharitable arse! I believe you, okay? I believe you. It wasn't you who set me up and I'm sorry for even thinking it could have been you! You've always been extremely nice to me and, even though I don't understand why you'd be so nice to an ungrateful person who doesn't deserve you, I am grateful to have you!"

"You do deserve it. You just refuse to be happy with me..."

"I'm so sorry... I'm sorry I accused you. I'm a horrible person and I want to make it up to you. Just tell me what I can do."

"Just forget about it."

"No, please. We are friends. I'm sorry that I made you doubt it."

"Water under the bridge. I'm just glad we talked. We can forget it ever happened."

"No, there must be something I can do. Anything," I beg.

"Go on a date with me," he says boldly. I fumble for the words as silence fills the vast space. "Wow, wanting to make amends so badly but god forbid he asks for a date."

"You know I can't..."

"You just said that ring is from your aunt."

"It is."

"Then what is it? Do you currently have a boyfriend?"

"No, but--"

"Are you still worried about your dad?"

"Well--"

"Or is it me?"

"It's not," I don't know what to tell him! I've never seen him so serious.

"I am asking to spoil you, treat you like royalty, and make you smile! But you act like I'm trying to steal your purse. Does it scare you that you might actually find yourself feeling happy around me?"

"H-How about I come to your next gig?" I dodge his question. "Just give me a time and place."

"You don't owe me anything, I know you're just offering because you feel bad."

"I really want to go. Please."

"Zelda--"

"Pik," I interrupt him. "Time and place."

"It's next week," he says. Next week is Impa's tournament, her trial, and Link's surgery, but...

"I'll be there," I promise. "What's the address?"

"Are you sure you want to come?" 

"The address," I demand.

"Let's meet at the mall. We'll go from there. I'll give you more details later."